The healthcare setting of the 21st century can be characterized by the intensifying dialogue between clinical experts and the population. More specifically, the professional community increasingly recognizes the bilateral nature of medical relations. In this regard, people must be taught the key principles of personal and public health through effective community outreach and education. This idea is key to building a stronger, healthier community that is ready to cooperate with medical professionals in terms of prevention and eradication of major health risks. This matter has attracted the attention of the nation’s policymakers and appeared on the agenda of Congress. Representative Maloney introduced a resolution to designate the month of August as “National Health Care Awareness Month” (“H.Res.590”, 2021). This policy is related to the necessity of profound cooperation between healthcare professionals and the public.
Public health is a complex idea that does not depend exclusively on the actions of medical workers and policy-makers. In fact, it is well established that disease prevention is always more effective than any treatment. This way, each individual can contribute to the public and individual health by being responsible in terms of lifestyle. Shaman and Knowlton (2018) concur, referring to community outreach as one of the pillars of a sustainable society. In other words, medical professionals and the population should remain aligned to help each other build healthy communities. The recent COVID-19 pandemic is an excellent example of such a situation.
It has become an unprecedented challenge for the healthcare system, as doctors and nurses have been working under immense stress to mitigate the consequences of the outbreak. Under these circumstances, it has been essential for the public to avoid unnecessary damage and alleviate the stress on the system (Li et al., 2020). For this purpose, communities should be educated on healthy behavior and prevention techniques, which aligns with healthcare awareness and health literacy.
References
H.Res.590. (2021). U.S. Congress. Web.
Li, W., Liao, J., & Liu, E. (2020). Public health education for parents during the outbreak of COVID-19: A rapid review. Annals of Translational Medicine, 8(10). Web.
Shaman, J., & Knowlton, K. (2018). The need for climate and health education. American Journal of Public Health, 108(2), 66-67. Web.